Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) — A few weeks ago pro-abortion presidential candidate Barack Obama said he didn’t know when human life began — saying it was "above my pay grade." Today, the Democratic nominee said in a television interview that he was "too flip" in responding to the question.

When asked during the forum at Saddleback Church, Obama said last month "that whether you’re looking at it from a theological perspective or a scientific perspective, answering that question with specificity, you know, is above my pay grade."

In an interview with ABC News’ "This Week" program on Sunday, Obama said he meant to say that he thinks the scientific question of the beginning of human life is a theological one that he can’t answer.

"What I intended to say is that, as a Christian, I have a lot of humility…all I meant to communicate was that I don’t presume to be able to answer these kinds of theological questions," he said.

Obama went on to say that "abortion is a moral issue, that it’s one that families struggle with all the time."

Deflecting attention from his non-answer, Obama shifted to the typical language he uses when discussing the abortion debate — a plea for getting along and reducing abortions while providing no specifics on how he would reduce them as president.

"And that in wrestling with those issues, I don’t think that the government criminalizing the choices that families make is the best answer for reducing abortions," he told the program.

"The better answer…is to figure out, how do we make sure the young mothers, or women who have a pregnancy that’s unexpected or difficult, have the kind of support they need to make a whole range of choices, including adoption and keeping the child," he said.

Presidential hopeful John McCain was clear and precise in his answer to the question at the Saddleback faith forum.

"At the moment of conception," McCain answered.

He elaborated on the abortion question and sought to assure pro-life voters that he will keep pro-life precepts in mind when he occupies the White House.

"I will be a pro-life president and this presidency will have pro-life policies,” he said. “I have a 25-year pro-life record. That’s my commitment to you.”

Obama has come under fire for his vastly pro-abortion position, including supporting virtually unlimited abortions paid for at taxpayer expense. He has also tried to deflect criticism that he misrepresented his votes in the Illinois legislature against bills that would have stopped infanticides.

Obama has also promised activists with Planned Parenthood, the nation’s largest abortion business, that the first thing he would do as president is overturn every pro-life law in all 50 states.